Janjivan Bureau
New Delhi: After the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikars announcement of OROP the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) chairman, Major General (retired) Satbir Singh, on Saturday said that they were satisfied with Defence Minister assurance that OROP will hold good for those taking Pre-Mature Retirement (PMR).
“We had come for the clarification of one point, it was about premature retirement. The Defence Minister confirmed that there is no VRS in the defence services, therefore, the OROP will be effective for those taking Pre-Mature Retirement (PMR). He will give an official note on this in a day or two after discussing with the Prime Minister. He has confirmed verbally that there is no VRS in the defence forces,” Singh told media here.
“After this statement, we are satisfied…We will take a call on that (strike) later, we are satisfied with what he has said,” he added.
On Saturday afternoon, Parrikar announced that the government has decided to implement the 42 years awaited OROP scheme, stating that there would be a revision of pension every five years as against the two years demanded by the ex-servicemen.
He also said that the government would also setup a one-member judicial committee to work out details of implementation of the OROP.
Earlier IESM said that it would continue its agitation over the implementation of OROP scheme till all of their demands are accepted by the government.
“We agreed to two points of government’s decision. Rest of the four points are not in accordance with our principles, one is related to premature retirement, second is the five years thing (pension revision), third is the one member judicial committee and fourth is related to average of the scale. All these four points are wrong,” said chairman of IESM, Major General (Retired) Satbir Singh.
“Till all the four points are settled, especially the one related to premature retirement, we will not lift hunger strike. We will continue our fight till all our points are accepted,” he added.
On Saturday afternoon, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announced that the government has decided to implement the much awaited OROP scheme, stating that there would be a revision of pension every five years as against the two years demanded by the ex-servicemen.
He also said that the government would also setup a one-member judicial committee to work out details of implementation of the OROP.
PM has fulfilled OROP promise, Cong played a joke: Shah
Terming as “historic” the Centre’s decision on ‘One Rank, One Pension’, BJP today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled the commitment he made to ex-servicemen and provided them economic security while Congress had only played a “joke” on them when in power.
Attacking Congress, BJP President Amit Shah said the pension of ex-servicemen was decreased by its government in the 70s and slammed the allocation of only Rs 500 crore for OROP by the previous UPA government.
“In 1973 their pension was reduced from 70 per cent to 50 per cent (of salary) and the demand for OROP has been hanging fire since…. The previous Congress government in its last moments made an allocation of Rs 500 crore for it and this was a joke with servicemen,” Shah told reporters, noting that an additional expenditure of Rs 9,000-10,000 crore annually will go towards it.
Recalling that it was Modi’s poll promise during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, he said the prime minister had fulfilled it now.
Shah underlined that the decision would come into effect from the time Modi came to power.
“Every year Rs 9,000-10,000 crore more will go to the ex-servicemen. The Modi government has given economic security to them as well the serving personnel who will retire later.
He, however, declined to take any question. A section of ex-servicemen has objected to the contours of the OROP formulation as announced by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
In tweets, Shah said the “historic” decision is a “big step for the welfare of soldiers; the real life heroes”.
“The decision will go a long way in boosting morale of our soldiers and their families,” he said.
